Window Treatments Sure to Lower Your Monthly Energy Bill
My favorite homes have an abundance of natural light. Unfortunately allowing light to pour in sometimes also means letting summer heat or winter drafts and increase your energy bill. You may be surprised how much window treatments can help. These are the most popular five treatments to use to increase your energy efficiency without replacing your windows.
Option #1: Roman Shades
Simply put, roman shades are a piece of fabric that covers the window opening. The fabric folds accordion-style as you move the shade up or down. Roman shades can open just from the bottom or they can be customized to also be lowered down from the top of the treatment to reveal only the top part of the window's glass, keeping the lower part of the window covered. The best part about roman shades is that they can be lined in blackout or light-filtering lining. Also, since they are custom made, you can pick from a large multitude of fabric textures and prints. The only downside is they can be difficult to clean.
Option #2: Drapery Panels
Drapery panels are a great way to regulate the temperature and light in a home. The fabric choices are endless and can be customized with your choice of pleat styles and hardware. They can be lined in blackout or light-filtering lining and can even affect sound in a space depending on the size, fabric, and interlinings. The tradeoff is that, like any fabric treatment, they can also be more difficult to clean than hard treatments.
Option #3: Cellular Shades
Cellular shades are honeycomb-shaped. They create an air barrier between the window and your living space. They can be installed as a regular shade that pulls down, or as a top down/bottom up shade. There are a couple of downsides to cellular shades: they are textured and can trap more dirt than other soft treatments and they have limited colors and texture options.
Option #4: Interior Shutters
Shutters are a good option to keep in the heat or air conditioning and to create energy efficiency. They come in a number of styles, but can be more expensive and do not work on all window styles. They are always visible and will block some portion of the glass, even when they are open.
Option #5: Traditional Blinds
Of course you can pick traditional blinds. Again the styles of these are limited, and usually do not usually have the luxury vibe that custom made treatments do. They are, however, easy to clean and affordable. Because they do block the light, they at least offer some reduction in heat and a/c loss.
Ready for custom window treatments that will make you fall in love with your home (AND your lower energy bill)? Contact us to book your consultation.
Until next time,